Waitemata DHB needs at least an extra $31 million

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) delegate and district nurse Esther Linklater is calling on the Government to invest at least $31 million over what is expected for Waitemata DHB in Thursday’s Budget, just to maintain Waitemata’s health care services.

“I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I had twins in hospital at 21. One particular nurse listened and treated me with incredible dignity and respect. I wanted to be that person, one that made a difference” she says.

“But now, if our equipment breaks down or can’t be used, it may not get replaced because of ‘budgetary prioritisation’. When staff leave it’s sometimes months before they are replaced. At the same time, people are coming to us sicker than before, so we know people are definitely missing out on care.”

“The nursing team has been doing more with less for years. It’s getting to the point that we’re really worried about our colleagues, our patients, our jobs and the level of health care available for Waitemata."

“We’re nurses. We want to provide high quality care for everyone who needs it and that’s what we’d prefer to be doing. But when the health system is underfunded by over a billion dollars– we have to speak up. New Zealanders need to know what’s actually going on.”

“If our health system was properly funded we would have the right staff with the right skills and equipment in the right place, so that everybody gets the care they need when they need it.”

“We think people in Waitemata want great healthcare they can access where and when they need it, too.”

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